Have you found Joy?

 

  I was watching the movie "the Bucket List" the other day. And they brought up a concept that really appealed to me. At one point itn the movie Morgan Freeman, sitting atop a prymid in egypt, talks about the Egyptian belief of the after life. He said that when you got to the gates of paradise, the gods in charge asked you two questions and the answers decided if you  would be allowed in.

   Question 1: Have you found Joy? 

    Think about that, have you?  Only you can truely answer this question, if you lie you are only hurting yourself.  DO you have something that brings you Joy?

    Question 2: (and i may be saying this slightly wrong but the sentiment is the same) Have you worked to bring joy to others?

    Again, do you? Only you truly know the answer to this question.

    For me, i  placed them on my refrigritor. I look at them a couple of times a day, and i feel that if i really do pay attention and try to achieve both, i am well on my way to being the man i really want to be. It seems like such simple concepts, just very well put.

   Ok, just randoms thoughts,

 thanks for listening.

   Bill

I don't know the answer. The only joy I've REALLY experienced was in hypomanias. Outside of that I think the best was hosting a dinner and everything on the menu (besides butter and spices) was things we had caught (fish) or grown in our garden. That is VERY satisfying to me.

Bringing joy to others? I have no idea. I guess I don't, really.

Good things to think about. I'm open to suggestions. With bp, I end up staying home and fixating on symptoms, or lack of. OR medications. or other ppl with bp. I need more of a life. (My classes are all cancelled this week for holiday.

I saw most of the movie the other night. It was on late and I had to go to bed. But I did see that scene. To both answers I can say yes. :)

I think maybe I do may a little joy in someone else's life. My neighbors daughter is 12. I've sort of "adopted" her like a big brother/big sister thing.

She comes over here to train my dog, take care of my rabbits. She petsits for me. I teach her all kinds of nifty stuff.

It gives me the human interaction I need. And being a kid, she's not judgmental. I might fold laundry while we're talking and it's not a big deal.

Today I showed her how to butcher a rabbit, what organs look and feel like, how to make brine, how to salt a hide, how to give a subcutaneous injections, how to make homemade chocolate pudding, and how to clean a variety of stains. She helped me on installing the automaitc rabbit watering system she has been helping with (learning about solvent welding, etc.)

She sent me a note on Facebook "Thanks for the fun day" :)

Thanks for keeping me from getting depressed, kiddo. :)

The joy I've known in my life was just a symptom of bp. So I don't WANT "joy" because it would cause so much anxiety about my health. If I can bring a bit of joy to someone else.... that's good.

I have felt joy...even if it was just watching my horse run free across a field.....But  a what seems to be a never ending depressionn settled in about 3 years ago, and one of my biggest  losses was that feeling of joy.  I have given joy, that I know for sure.  From 2002-2007, I had a therpuetic horse back riding program for autistic kids, physically and mentally challenged kids, etc. I had a couple helpers plus my son working with me. Seeing the pure joy on some of these kids faces moved me to tears.  Even though I fought some bouts of depresion, the kids were a very compelling reason to get out of bed.  The joy between the kids and I was a mutual thing.  Plus during that time I grew very close to my son.  I think back on those times as very special. but once the therapeutic riding ended ( I am just realizing this)  I have not really laughed, or smiled alot, or have had much joy and my bi-polar stuff has been a mess....somehow a couple years ago, I decided the 5 years with those kids was a gift...that I would never experince again.  Oh, cheez, now I am feeling all sad...what a huge loss in my life.

Tortoise....

Thanks....good to be back...will get back with you later tonight